Mandu.

Mandu, a small, sleepy backcountry town in Madhya Pradesh state, is yet another great example of a place begging to be explored. Offering many points of interest it is a delightfull place for the adventurous traveller to stay a few days. It is an old city-fortified at least since the 6th century BC, and the first you see of Mandu are the walls punctuated by 12 gates which surrounds the old cityarea. In town itself there are several palaces and mosques. The main draw for visitors. Between 1401 and 1561 the ruined ancient Mandu covering a large area outside the present center was the capital of a Muslim state.

Drying chili in the hot afternoon sun.

The entrance to the Jami Masjid. The complex is located i the middle of modern Mandu, and the haat bazar is held just outside its walls.

The central courtyard of Jami Masjid.

Hoshang Shah's grave. Note the carved yali windows in the background.

Schoolgirls returning home.

Clean drinking water is distributed every day.

A group of wandering pilgrims arrives in Mandu. There is a Shiva temple in the area which attracts many pilgrims.

Mandus Haat Bazaar atracts  lots of tribal people from the surrounding villages. Here is a mound of mahuwa flowers, used to make Mahuwa-moonshine. I tried it once...it was my first and last time.

Killing time.

A tribal woman from one of the surrounding villages study some jewellery for sale-displayed on a blanket on the ground. 

The Haat Bazar with the white dome of the Hoshang Shah mausoleum in the background.

Negotiations.

They carry heavy. They carry far.

Waiting!

The afternoon rush in Mandus central crossroad. No stinking cars, but farting cattle. Less dangerous, for sure!

A tribal boy and his goat. Mandus population is divided in two. In the more central and upmarked areas there are mainstream indians. In the more villagelike "suburbs" people are tribal.

Cooking in a backyard in Mandu. Some firewood is used, but cow dung dominates.

Jahaz Mahal. The crown of the ancient palace complex. It is situated between two artificial lakes.

The Hindola Mahal, one of the buildings in the huge royal palace complex. The name means swinging walls, hinting to its sloped construction. It is thought to have been used as an audience chamber. 

View from the top of the Jahaz Mahal.

Fishing in one of the palace ponds. They got a big catch. Some of the fishes were quite big.

A mausoleum i the middle of a field. The area surrounding Mandu is packed with monuments like this.

And another mausoleum as a backdrop for a village.

Now silent and deserted. Once full of life and action. The ruins of a caravanserai outside of Mandu.

Yali windows in a mausoleum.

A small temple outside Mandu. Two arriving pilgrims conveniently enters the photo frame as i am about to shoot.

Some ancient man made caves outside Manu. Nearby is a great vantagepoint over the surrounding area.

A villagehome. Getting around by bike is easy and worthwhile.

Drying wheels of dung for fire.

Over a cowdung fire,well into the road. A couple running a roadside eatery make food.

Leaving Mandu on a true "chicken bus"bound for Dhar. Only it was only a few chickens onboard. Goats however numbered  more than a dozen.